The leader of Israel’s Democrats party, Yair Golan, is facing fierce backlash after a leaked recording captured him describing the Chareidi community as “parasites” and comparing them to Palestinians during a closed-door meeting with party activists in Kiryat Ono.
In the recording, Golan referred to the growing Chareidi population and said, “Today they’re 13.5% of the population,” before adding, “A community that’s growing rapidly, living like a parasite off the rest of the population—this can’t work.”
He continued with further criticism of the Chareidi community, saying, “You’re too heavy, we can’t carry you on our backs. We can’t work for you and pay taxes for you.”
Golan also drew a comparison between his views on the Chareidi public and the Palestinian issue, stating: “Regarding the Haredim, just as I said regarding the Palestinians—separation or annexation. Regarding the Haredim—segregation or integration.”
The remarks quickly sparked outrage among Chareidi politicians and community leaders, who condemned the comments as inflammatory and divisive, accusing Golan of demonizing an entire sector of Israeli society.
The leaked recording is the latest in a series of controversial statements by Golan that have drawn widespread criticism across Israel’s political spectrum.
(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
19 Responses
What Golan said is very tame compared to what I see posted on Chariedi sites about secular Israelis. And what possible issue does the Chareidi world have with his offer of “segregation or integration” ? Isn’t segregation what they themselves are usually the ones who are demanding?
In other words “apartheid or forced assimilation”. There you have it folks. The “only democracy in the Middle East” TM.
This guy is pro terrorism he should be gassed and cremated
He Has a Point. I dont see you arguing with the Fact that The Charedis are living off the Backs of the Working People
RCOHEN – Contrary to popular belief, the majority of Chareidim (over 26) work. Foreign donations to Yeshivos in Israel inject hundreds of millions of dollars in hard cash into the Israeli economy every year.
smerel – If he means that I no longer need to pay taxes then fine… I anyway never took a shekel from the State as a matter of principle, even what I easily could have taken legally.
So treat the chareidim like you treat the Palestinians that live in Israel
You even treat the jailed Palestinians better than a jailed Chareidi
What living off are you morons talking about. Nobody gives them a penny including the government. Either they have some family generational wealth or some good-hearted people give them donations to make ends meet because they want to share in their extremely strong Torah contributions which is unmatched anywhere else. Consider it a privilege to help hashem’s people instead of spitting at them and putting them down at every turn
Amazing the fact that YeshivaWorld allows this as a comment then complains what is said about charedis, Hypocrites :
rebEmes says:
July 21, 2026 12:30 pm at 12:30 pm
This guy is pro terrorism he should be gassed and cremated
secular israelis should be hated, because they are hated by Hashem for living a life full of aveiros.
This statement is incorrect. Currently, 80% of Chareidi women and 54% of Chareidi men in Israel are in the workforce.
The main reason for this gender gap is the military requirement. It is hypocrite to accuse the Chareidim of not contributing, when the state, through conscription, forces individuals and businesses to bear the cost of the military, instead of funding it directly with a professional army.
@smerel
The problem is the “integration” part. The chareidim don’t want to be forcibly converted into godless pork-eating new-Hebrews.
The bigger problem is his obvious lack of recognition of the below item.
@RCohen
No, he does not at all have a point.
The wicked Zionists are the ones who forcibly impoverish the chareidim by not allowing them to work due to their shmad army diktat.
Let the wicked Zionists allow them to live (unlike now, when the yeshiva boys are all illegal) and allow them to work like they do in every civilized country around the world without forcing them to be shmaded in the Zionist army. But the wicked Zionists would rather impoverish them and make it illegal for them to work and then get to call them “parasites”.
To RCOHEN,
He does not have a point.
* Most Chareidi woman work.
* Many Charedi men work.
* In any case, only about 50% of Israelis pay any income tax.
* Much government revenue comes from the 18% VAT payed on virtually all goods and services. Chareidim pay this like everyone else. (Probably more, because they are less likely than chilonim to purchase things from abroad, and more likely vacation locally, while chilonim often vacation abroad.)
* Whenever one buys a new apartment in Israel (and they are quite expensive), a high percentage goes to the government.
* Yeshivos and kollelim bring massive amounts of financial support from abroad. This is the financial equivalent of exporting goods. It is spent in Israel and boosts the economy.
* Anyone who lives here knows that Chareidim are not living off of government hand-outs. The numbers don’t even nearly add up.
Please don’t fall for the hateful antireligious propoganda. BTW, Golan is the guy who chose to speak about supposed excesses of Israeli soldiers against arabs in a Yom Hoshoah speech.
To RCOHEN,
He does not have a point.
* Most Chareidi woman work.
* Many Charedi men work.
* In any case, only about 50% of Israelis pay any income tax.
* Much government revenue comes from the 18% VAT payed on virtually all goods and services. Chareidim pay this like everyone else. Probably more, because they are less likely to purchase things from abroad, and less often vacation abroad.
* Whenever one buys a new apartment in Israel (and they are quite expensive), a high percentage goes to the government.
* Yeshivos and kollelim bring massive amounts of financial support from abroad. This is the financial equivalent of exporting goods. It is spent in Israel and boosts the economy.
* Anyone who lives here knows that Chareidim are not living off of government hand-outs. The numbers don’t even nearly add up.
Please don’t fall for the hateful antireligious propaganda. BTW, Golan is the guy who, on Yom Hashoah, chose to speak – of all things – about supposed excesses of Israeli soldiers against arabs.
@HaKatan
There is a shortage of soldiers. It is that simple. Get of your bubble. They are not trying to convert you.
Haredim can only not legally serve until the age of 26. That’s all. Many Charedim in America here start working later and are just fine.
@shaimanne
Your stats are cute. According to a Kohelet Policy Forum analysis, the average Haredi household in Israel receives about ₪4,000 more in government benefits and public services than it pays in taxes, while the average non-Haredi Jewish household pays about ₪6,000 more in taxes than it receives.
By the way, only 55% of Charedei men work and mostly in low income jobs. Housing and Daycare has been significantly subsidized by non-charedim. It is time for Israeli Charedim to start conducting like American Charedim.
It’s nice everyone wants to logically explain to a Jew hater like RCohen the real facts but someone who could even think of sticking up for Yair Golan (above) should be excommunicated from the Jewish people to begin with
Goid dialog and even somewhat polite! Can someone bring actual numbers on money flows? There were so many articles here about reducing benefits that were labeled as prosecution, leading to a belief that these benefits are very large. Maybe they are not, I don’t know. There is actual research on the topic, I’ve seen it before.
Like the rest of the people who bash those better than them, the secular Israeli’s are the biggest parasites! Taking billions of American taxpayer dollars and then accusing others of being the parasites.
So secular Israelis come to America where you will pay large taxes to support a huge criminal underclass of murderers, rapists,drug dealers, thieves ,etc. who live for generations on the government dole. And how about the large Arab parasites in Israel who don’t work, or pay taxes or serve in the IDF and of course don’t even study Torah and have a large percentage who want to murder you if given the chance?
This was the EXACT TACTIC OF THE NAZIS!!! To convince the public that the Jews are taking all thier money!!!